Fare-box.



PATBNTED sfinge, 190s.

J. H. GOLBMAN.

FARE B0X. APPLIQATION FILBD'SBPT. 2, 1902K.

`1m nonni..

No. vsaea.

UNITED STATES- atented September 29, 19053.

PATENT 'y OFFICE.

.Y FARE-BOX.

SPEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,832, dated September 29, 1903.

` Application filed September 2, 1902. Serial No. 121,827. (No model.)

.To afZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HENRY COLE- MAN,of the village of Tottenham, in the county of Simcoe, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements' in Fare-Boxes, of which thek following is a specification.

The object of this invention-is to devise means for rendering it impossible lto remove cash or tickets from a fare-box by means of an implement known as a digger or by any similar means; and-it consists, essentially, of

a lever pivoted at eaehside of the passageway for fares and so shaped that theinsertion of a digger or similar tool between the upper ends of the levers brings the lower ends of the levers' together to" restrict or absolutely close theV passage-way,'so that either the parts of the digger are closed together or the lower part of the passage-way absolutely closed, either against the further insertion of the digger or the exit of coins or tickets, substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a farebox provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is perspective view of the mechanism, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism, showing'a digger inserted between the levers. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the line n; y in Fig.V 1 looking toward the back of the box. Fig. 5'is aperspective detail of a modification of vthe mechanism shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. Y

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the dierent gures. y

A is the casing of a fare-box, and VB the passage-way for fares, opening with the usual slot through the upper 'end of the box. This passage-way is formed by the plates H, one at each side'. These plates are rigidly secured tothe sides of the box and are slotted to permit of the levers E playing through them. These levers are pivoted at b and hang vertically on each side of the passagewaycB. inwardly-extending heads F are formed on these levers, and their tails E are also preferably bent inwardly toward one antheir heads will normallyflie in close proX- imity to one another and their tails somewhat separated and in contact, or nearly so, with the stops g, formed by the 'bottoms of the slots in the plates H, which latter are preferably L-shaped, as shown. These stops are useful in preventing the heads of any one set of levers completely closing the passageway when the box is turned partly on its side to receive a fare. The levers are preferably sufficiently long to permit of the largest coin or ticket used as a fare passing between the levers without contacting simultaneously with both the heads and tails. The heads of the levers being inclined downwardly toward the center, the fare readily separates them, and thus bringsthe'-tails together. As soon as the fare passes the heads the tails open up again and the fare drops through Vinto the box'. The operation of these levers inproventing the box being robbed is substantially as follows: Anything in the shape o f a dig'- .ger inserted between the heads lF causes the tails Gr to come together. The levers are so shaped andproportioned that the tails are thus caused to either completely close the passage-way or else to compress the parts of the digger so tightly together that `no money or tickets can be taken out. If the digger be forced still farther into the box, the pressure on the tails of the levers will have a tendency to cause the heads F to squeeze the upper parts of the'digger closely together. As the levers are pivoted near their upperaends, they have a powerful leverage at Jtheir heads and the digger is very effectively closed up.

The operation of the levers is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, in which the levers are so shaped and proportioned that the closelypressed parts of the digger may just pass siv tails of the levers. It is evident that it is absolutely impossible for any coin to be shaken into the digger and withdrawn throughl the passage-way between the levers. The tails of the levers might be bent inwardly suficiently to completely obstruct the passageway, in which case the digger could not be forced between the tails without sufficient force being employed to damage the apparatus. It is not absolutely essential that the tails of the levers either overlap or meet, as they will be quite effective as long as they come sufficiently close to prevent the exit of.

a coin when the digger is inserted between the levers. The heads F of the opposed sets of levers preferably touch, or nearly so, and their tops are inclined inwardly and downwardl y toward the center line to facilitate the passage of fares between them. It will be seen that the essential features of these opposed sets of levers is that they be so proportioned and hung that any digger or tool inserted between their upper ends brings the lower ends in such relationship to one another as to entirely prevent the exit of tickets or coin either independently or between the parts of the digger. Y

While I prefer to employ two sets of levers, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, yet most of the advantages of my invention may be obtained with one pair of levers, provided they be made of suicient width to extend across or substantially across the full width of the passage-way for fares. Such a wide pair of levers is illustrated in Fig. 5.

It is evident that a considerable degree of utility may be obtained by using a lever or levers at one side only of the passage-way for fares, as such a lever or levers would coperate with the opposed plate H to act in the same manner as a pair of opposed levers.

In my fare-box I continue to employ the pivoted needles C, with weighted tails tending always to maintain them with their points raised, as described and claimed in my prior United States patent, No. 608,107, dated July 26, 1898. I also use the spring-actuated plates I), as in my prior patent.

The door I is of novel construction. Instead of\hinging it I provide it with two lugs c, which engage the lugs cl, formed at the bottom of the casing. The bolt e of the cylinderlock J engages the back of the lugf when the door is locked. (See Figs. l and et.) Thus when the bolt is turned back the door may be lifted away entirely and the contents of the fare-box emptied. I find this arrangement stronger and more convenient than hinging the doors in the ordinary manner. It will be seen thatthe lugs c are really ribs and extend up almost to the top of the door, so that their upper ends form stops to prevent the door being lifted when the door is in the closed position.

I may say that what is known as a digger consists of a piece of flat steel bent round till the two parts are substantially parallel to one another, but one .shorter than the other. When the digger is inserted between the needles, they are pressed back by the spring of the metal, and coin or tickets are easily shaken onto the long end and thence slid out between the parts of the digger. My present invention, it will be seen, entirely prevents this.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a fare-boxhaving' a fare-slot, the combination of a pair of vertical levers pivoted opposite one another, one 'at each side of the said slot and a plate between the levers forming `a passage-way forfares, the said levers being so shaped and proportioned that the spreading apart of either pair of opposed ends by the passage of a tool or fare will cause the other ends to restrict or close the passage-way for fares, substantially as described.

2. In a fare-box having a passage-way for fares, plates forming the sides of the passageway, in combination with a lever pivoted ont side of the said passage-way, the said lever being so shaped and located that the forcing outward of either end will cause the other to cross the plate and restrict or -close the said plate, substantially as described.

3. Infa fare-box having a passage-Way for fares,verticallyslotted plates forming the opposite sides of the said passage-way, in combination with two sets of opposed vertical levers pivoted opposite one another so as to work through the said slots, the said levers being so shaped and proportioned that the spreading apart of either of the sets of opposed ends by the passage of a tool or fare will cause the other ends to restrict or close the passage-way for fares, substantially as described.

4. In a fare-box having a passage-way for fares, vertically-slotted plates forming the opposite sides of the said passage-.way and having stops formed at the lower ends of the slots iu combination with a pair of vertical levers pivoted opposite one another so as to work through the said slots, the pivot-points being so placed that the upper ends of the levers are normally in close proximity to one another and their lower ends substantially in contact with the stops, substantially as described.

5. In a fare-box having a passage-way for fares, a pair of vertical levers pivoted opposite one another, one-at each side of said passage-way and provided with heads having their tops slanting downward and inward toward the center line, the levers being so shaped and proportioned that the heads are normally in close proximity and their lower ends somewhat separated,substantially as described.

6. In a fare-boX a casing A having a dooropening formed therein provided with the IOO IIO

lugs d and j', in combination with the door I be engaged and disengaged with the back of larger than the opening and. fitting in front of Vthe lug f, substantialy as described. the said lugs; lugs or hooks c formed on the Tottenham, August 27, 1902.

door and adapted to engage the baoks'of the JOSEPH HENRY COLEMAN 5 lugs d which t between the ings c and the back of the door; means for preventing the In presence ofdoor being lifted when in the closed position; JOHN MCGLANE, and a look provided with the bolt e which may GEO. P. HUGHES. 

